Japanese name: クロヨナ Scientific name:Pongamia pinnata
[Overview]
An evergreen tree 7–10 m tall, growing on coasts and limestone areas.
The leaves are alternate and odd-pinnately compound, consisting of 5–7 leaflets.
The leaflets are ovate to elliptic, 5–12 cm long and 4–8 cm wide, with a glossy upper surface.
Pseudoracemes arising from the leaf axils at the branch tips bear many pale reddish-purple or white pea-type flowers.
The fruit is a pod containing one reddish-orange seed.
The pods are dispersed by ocean currents.
[Uses]
The oil obtained from the seeds (pongam oil) is used for candles and soap, and also medicinally.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by cuttings.
In the Nansei Islands it can be grown outdoors and is used as a street tree and similar.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil.
If pruning, do it after flowering.
Pests and diseases include feeding damage by Okinawa-birodo-seseri.
